Holidaymakers and residents on the Mornington Peninsula should avoid mosquito bites this summer because of the risk of contracting Buruli ulcer.
Buruli ulcer causes an infection of the skin and soft tissue, which can develop into destructive skin ulcers. There is strong evidence that mosquitos play a role in the transmission of the disease.
There have been more than 150 cases reported in the south-east of Melbourne so far this year. About 60 per cent of those have been reported on the Mornington Peninsula.
The Director of the South East Public Health Unit, Professor Rhonda Stuart, said people could protect themselves by taking simple precautions. “Your best protection against mosquitoes and the diseases they can carry is to avoid mosquito bites.”
“You can avoid mosquito bites by using personal insect repellents containing diethyltoluamide (DEET) or picaridin, covering up by wearing long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, and by avoiding mosquito-prone areas, especially at dusk and dawn. You can also mosquito-proof your home by securing insect screens.”
“We also urge residents and visitors to reduce mosquito breeding sites around homes and camp sites by reducing areas where water can pool (including pot plant containers, buckets, open tins or cans, discarded tyres, and other untreated, freshwater pools).”
Professor Stuart said although Buruli ulcer was not fatal, the infection could leave people with significant skin deformity and sometimes damage to limbs.
“It can take several months for symptoms of Buruli ulcer to appear, meaning people bitten and infected in summer may not notice a lump on their skin until winter,” Professor Stuart said.
The first sign of Buruli ulcer is usually a painless, non-tender lump, commonly on the arm or leg. It is often mistaken for an insect or spider bite and is sometimes itchy. It can take several weeks before the lump develops into an ulcer on the skin, which is when people often go to their doctor.
“The condition is curable and treated with antibiotics,” Professor Stuart said. “But it is important that infections are diagnosed and treated early, otherwise infection can spread and take longer to treat and longer to heal. If left untreated, it can lead to severe skin and limb damage, so early treatment is vital. “